Fashionable Mega-Bolos

Nature’s Wonders Turned into Bolo Ties

- STORY BY HELEN SERRAS-HERMAN

A bolo is a hand-crafted jewelry version of a necktie showcasing a focal gemstone. Bolos are usually set in silver that slides on a braided cord with daggling decorative metal tips.

BOLO ROCKS

Bolos can serve as vessels showcasing beautiful lapidary art and refined, superior silversmithing craftsmanship, as well as natural rock or fossil specimens. Rockhounds love to bring home self-collected items from their field trips that may be cut and polished and set as bolos. Large rough specimens have a crustiness and aesthetic that make a visible impact. Organic materials such as amber, coral, antlers and shells are relatively easy to sand, polish, drill and wire to become bolos.

Specimens with a story behind them, or a specific color combination, are often chosen for the focal pendants. Agates with scenic patterns, bands, swirls, eyes, and fortifications, moss, plume and dendritic agates, inlay and intarsia are popular selections. Many Western wear bolos feature American turquoise. After selecting the pendant, it is rather easy to create bolos with inexpensive materials and equipment.

ORIGINS OF THE BOLO

The bolo we know today has both Native American and Spanish origins, with a contemporary twist and flair.

Victor Emanuel Cedarstaff applied in 1954 for a detailed bolo-patented slide design and received it in 1959 (US2896217A, patent now expired). The name bola (from Spanish ball) is derived from boleadora— a lariat type of weapon with weights at the ends of interconnected cords used to capture animals in Argentina and Uruguay (Spanish la reata = the lasso or rope).